Kidnap suspect’s father burnt alive by youths

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA, Owerri
The father of Udoka Ibe, who openly confessed his involvement in the gruesome murder of Imo State Deputy Governor’s Director of Protocol, Mr. Laz Anyanwu, was yesterday burnt alive by irate Amaimo youths.

Saturday Vanguard investigations revealed that scores of angry youths from Amaimo in Ikeduru Local Government Area of the state went on rampage, burning and destroying properties belonging to the Ibe family.

The suspect’s father, whose name could not immediately be ascertained, was bundled into a bus allegedly belonging to a member of the family and set ablaze.

It was also gathered that youths from Umuololo, Obodo Amaimo initiated the protest march soon after they heard the news from the local radio stations and were later joined by their colleagues from Amaobu, Obodo Amaimo, the native home of the suspect, Udoka Ibe.

The protesting villagers cursed and sang war songs denigrating members of Ibe family, even as they maintained that anybody that brazenly takes another person’s life should not be allowed to walk the streets.

The bus was still smouldering when Saturday Vanguard left the scene at about 2.30pm yesterday.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Vitalis Onugu, confirmed the story but pleaded that he should be given more time to get details.

He however said that some policemen have been drafted to the area to keep the peace and appealed to the youths to sheath their swords.